The colony ark is buzzing with workers and residents on their way to their next destination. Shadow and Maria seemed to be the only people on the ark that were moving in an easygoing manner. They were walking side by side.

Shadow looked down at Maria's legs. She suffers from polio and cannot walk without the use of crutches and leg braces. It hurt him to see her struggle with every step, cringing each time her foot struck the ground in that awkward, flat, and lifeless way.

"Can't the doctor do something about that?" Shadow said, glancing briefly to her legs.

"Well, Grandfather's been very busy with his experiments lately." She said sadly. "He doesn't have time to work on this."

Shadow didn't like what he was hearing. "The good doctor has plenty of time to work on his experiments, and as it would seem, enough time for this dinner party." He looks at her with eyes filled with genuine concern. "I think he could spare a while to help his own granddaughter."

Maria halts Shadow with her right crutch and walks in front of him so that she's face to face with him. "Grandfather works hard every day to ensure the betterment of mankind." Her words were rebuking and scolding. "Don't denounce his work just because he can't aid every single person he comes across." She turns to the large window facing Earth.

"Look down there, Shadow" She says softly as she and him walk up to it. "There are around six point seven billion people down there. Every one of them needs my grandfather in some way." She looks down to Shadow. "Yes I have things that are wrong with me, we all do. But down there…" She turns back to the window. "There are people who struggle every day to find food for their families, people who are shot down in the streets for sport. There are people who are starving and every day is a constant fight to survive." She looks back at Shadow. "Now what do you think is more important; a little trouble getting around this place, or what's happening down there?"

As much as Shadow hated it, he knew she was right. "I…" He began. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"

"It's okay Shadow," She smiled. "You're just trying to look out for me."

Shadow smiles as they both look back to the big blue planet. "If people are suffering so much down there, why do you want to go to Earth?"

Maria smiled delicately. "Because Shadow," She begins. "Just because there is suffering, doesn't mean that's all there is. Just look at it…it's beautiful. I always wanted to know what it would be like to feel the cool breeze blowing through my hair, to swim in the great big ocean, to see the flowers in an open field…" She looks over at him with that same delicate smile. "It just seems so exciting down there, and I'd love to be a part of it."

"That does sound nice…" Shadow said, turning his head away so Maria wouldn't see his blushing cheeks.

"I can't wait to go down there. And grandfather said that I can be on the next shuttle to visit the planet with a friend." She says. Shadow can see the bright enthusiasm in her voice.

"The good doctor will let you go down there, eh?" He says smiling.

"Yes, and the next shuttle leaves in two days." She looks toward the planet again. "It's going to be so wonderful!"

"I'm so happy for you." Shadow says, smiling widely at her joy.

"And Shadow?" She asks.

"Yeah?"

"Grandfather said I could bring one friend with me…" She giggled bashfully. "Would come with me?"

Shadow's face got all red again. "Y…you want me to come with you?" he smiled.

"Yes, of course!" Maria laughed. "I don't think I could enjoy my trip there without you."

There was a brief moment of silent smiling before a much anticipated "Yes" escaped Shadows lips.

They just stared into each other's eyes for a bit. Then Maria said, "We should probably get going. The dinner party, remember?"

They both broke the gaze, both turning and blushing. "Right," Shadow said. "Well, uh… La-"

"Ladies first, I know." Maria chuckled. They both started back to the doctor's private dining area, when all of a sudden, people started to crowd their way. They all seemed to be looking toward the window.

"What are they doing here?" They heard from the massive crowd. "This doesn't seem right. What do they want?" Another said.

"Shadow?" Maria asked. "Do you think you could nudge through a few people and take a look? It could be serious." Shadow could see a firm but unstable concern in her eyes. He does what she says, and then reports back to her.

"There are ships, boarding the ARK." He says.

"Do they have a flag, or maybe a name painted on them?"

Shadow takes another look. "Yeah," He says. "G.U.N."

Maria sighs of relief. "Oh, okay." she mutters. "Hey everyone." she calls to the crowd. The all stop their nervous chatter to listen to the respected daughter of Dr. Gerald Robotnik. "It's okay. G.U.N.'s probably just here for a routine check up." She says.

"Is that what they always do?" Shadow asked her quietly.

"Yes." She responds. "They usual come when we're asleep, that's probably why they're so worked up." She turns back to the crowd. "There's nothing to worry about. Please return to your affairs." She sounded professional and dignified. Even at the age of fourteen, she shows more leadership skill than anyone around her.

"So," Shadow looks to Maria as they crowd goes back to what they were doing before. "You don't think they'll interrupt our dinner plans, do you?" Shadow laughed. Maria didn't. "Is something wrong?"

"It's just that I've never seen them do a 'check up' with so many ships. You don't think something has gone wrong, do you?" She said seriously.

"Like what?" Shadow asked.

"I don't know… but I think the crowd might have been right, something is definitely wrong here…"

BANG! BANG! Gunshots echoed through halls, paralyzing every soul onboard…


BANG! Amy shut the driver side door, waking Shadow up. "Wake up, we're here." Amy said cheerfully. "You must've fallen asleep during the ride."

Shadow rose from his fetal position in Amy's car into the seat. With half open eyes, he opened the door and crawled out of the hybrid onto the neatly shoveled brick driveway.

It was obvious that Amy had done well for herself. Only eighteen years old and instead of a crappy apartment or her parents' house, she was living in something confusable with a mansion. It's made of stone and brick, and had the look of a designer style house, like it belonged to a celebrity.

Amy noticed Shadow looking curiously at her snow capped domicile. "My cousin." She said. "He struck fortune in Mercia after the war." She looked down briefly. "When he died, he left everything to me."

"Your cousin died?" Shadow asked. "When?"

"Two years ago he was assassinated by one of Robotnik's robots." Amy thinks back for a moment. "I think you and I hated each other then. That's probably why you didn't know."

"Well, for whatever it's worth now, I'm sorry for your loss." Shadow says sympathetically.

"Thanks…he was a good guy. He took care of me." Amy cleared her throat. "Come inside. I know you didn't finish your coffee, so I guess it can't hurt if you have some now." She squints her eyes as she look up into the temperately falling snow. "Besides, it's freezing out here. You don't want to catch a cold."

"Yeah." Shadow said as he followed Amy inside.